Support bar for beds

ABSTRACT

A horizontal bar, pivoted at one end such that its longitudinal axis can be oriented parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a bed, and so disposed that it can be locked in either position in addition to being raised and lowered with respect to the floor is connected to a switch which is closed if and only if the bar is oriented with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed. An invalid in the bed can get out of the bed without assistance by swinging the bar out and closing the switch to light a lamp, and leaning on the bar when leaving the bed. The bar can be swung in and the lamp extinguished when the invalid wishes to re-enter the bed.

United States Patent 1 [l 1] 3,863,282 Stillwell Feb. 4, 1975 SUPPORT BAR FOR BEDS Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam [75] Inventor S g M- Sunwen Bryson Clty Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, NY. a part [57] ABSTRACT interest A horizontal bar, pivoted at one end such that its longitudinal axis can be oriented parallel to or perpendic- [22] Med: I974 ular to the longitudinal axis of a bed, and so disposed [2 App| 430,900 that it can be locked in either position in addition to being raised and lowered with respect to the floor is connected to a switch which is closed if and only if the [52] U.S. Cl 5/317 B, 5/81 R bar i oriented with its longitudinal axis parallel to the [51] Int. Cl A47C 21/00, A6lg 7/08 longitudinal axis of the bed. An invalid in the bed can [58] Fleld 0f Search 240/2 R, 4, 52 BL; 5/60, get out of h bed i h assistance by i i the 5/81 84192 317 317 327 R bar out and closing the switch to light a lamp, and leaning on the bar when leaving the bed. The bar can [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS fill Mayer 5/317 B i be swung in and the lamp extinguished when the invalid wishes to re-enter the bed.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 4|975 mu m.

FIG. 2

TO LAMP SUPPORT BAR FOR BEDS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed towards improvements in the field of convalescent care. More specifically, my invention is designed to aid semi-mobile invalids by allowing them to enter and leave their sickbeds without assistance. by providing such invalids with a support upon which they can lean when entering or leaving their beds, and which they can swing out of their way when not needed.

To this end I attach a strong horizontal bar to a bed in such a manner that the bar, which I pivot at one end, can be raised from or lowered to the floor and locked in a suitable vertical position. The pivot is so constructed as to allow the bar to be oriented with its axis parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed, and is further constructed so as to lock the bar into either of these two positions when such are reached. In addition, I mount a switch on my device in such a fashion that it is open if and only if the bar is oriented so that its axis is parallel to that of the bed.

In this way, an invalid who wishes to leave his bed can swing the bar outward, thus locking it sturdily in place and lighting a light, by which the invalid can see in the dark. The invalid can then exit the bed, leaning on the bar until he is safely out of it and steady on his feet. When he returns to the bed, he can unlock the bar after he has safely entered the bed, and thus swing the bar back in and extinguish the light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a top view of my invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Two horizontal clamps 1 formed of metal L-stock are slidably attached to a support bracket 2 formed of metal sheet stock by means of bolts 3 riding in slots 4 cut into the support bracket, said bolts, slots and clamps being adaptable towards gripping opposite sides of a bed 13. The bracket supports a vertical hollow stand 7, said stand being located alongside the bed. A vertical rotatable post 5 bears a horizontal support arm 6 at its upper end, said post being disposed inside the stand and the arm extending away from the stand and lying above it. To the post is rigidly attached a horizontal lock plate 8, with two lock notches 9 cut therein, said notches being separated by 90 of arc. A lock arm 10 disposed in a vertical plane and rigidly attached to the stand is spring loaded. The purpose ofthe lockplate and lockarm is to insure that the support arm cannot be rotated beyond certain orientations with respect to the bed, said orientations being perpendicular to and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed. The arm is manually rotatable, and when the arm is swung either parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed, the spring on the lock arm engages the lock arm in the notch of the lock plate, and secures the support arm in that position, until the lock arm is released to allow further movement. A strike plate 11 borne on the post actuates a switch I2 in such a fashion that the switch is closed if and only if the arm is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed, so that a lamp may be lit when the arm is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

Although I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

l. A device for use by an invalid in leaving a bed and returning thereto, said device comprising:

a horizontal bracket extending transversely underneath said bed with one end extending past one side of the bed;

means securing said bracket to said bed;

a vertical hollow stand secured at its bottom end to said one end of the bracket and extending upward therefrom;

a vertical post disposed rotatably in the stand and extending thereabove;

a horizontal arm secured at one end to the top of the post and rotatable therewith;

a spring loaded lock arm disposed in a vertical plane and rigidly attached to the stand; and

a horizontal lock plate having two lock notches spaced by of arc and rigidly secured to the post, the plate and lock arm cooperating, with the spring in the lock arm causing the lock arm to engage one of the notches of the plate when the horizontal arm is swung to a first position at which the horizontal arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed and to engage the other notch when the horizontal arm is swung to a second position at which the horizontal arm is perpendicular to said axis whereby the horizontal arm once placed in either position will be locked therein until the lock arm is manually released to allow further movement.

2. The device of claim 1 further including a lamp and a switch for turning the lamp on, said switch being operated by movement of the horizontal arm, being opened when the horizontal arm is in the first position and being closed when the horizontal arm is in the second position. 

1. A device for use by an invalid in leaving a bed and returning thereto, said device comprising: a horizontal bracket extending transversely underneath said bed with one end extending past one side of the bed; means securing said bracket to said bed; a vertical hollow stand secured at its bottom end to said one end of the bracket and extending upward therefrom; a vertical post disposed rotatably in the stand and extending thereabove; a horizontal arm secured at one end to the top of the post and rotatable therewith; a spring loaded lock arm disposed in a vertical plane and rigidly attached to the stand; and a horizontal lock plate having two lock notches spaced by 90* of arc and rigidly secured to the post, the plate and lock arm cooperating, with the spring in the lock arm causing the lock arm to engage one of the notches of the plate when the horizontal arm is swung to a first position at which the horizontal arm is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed and to engage the other notch when the horizontal arm is swung to a second position at which the horizontal arm is perpendicular to said axis whereby the horizontal arm once placed in either position will be locked therein until the lock arm is manually released to allow further movement.
 2. The device of claim 1 further including a lamp and a switch for turning the lamp on, said switch being operated by movement of the horizontal arm, being opened when the horizontal arm is in the first position and being closed when the horizontal arm is in the second position. 